Jericho author John Mair is encouraging people to take a walk around his neighbourhood.
He is advising residents to start and finish the stroll in Mount Place, the area’s new public space, and take in some sights and history along the route.
The prolific author says Jericho is a writers and film-maker’s dream with a rich history.
According to Mr Mair it was once a red light district, features colourful terraces of houses, has plenty of pubs, and a good social mix - a hipsters’ paradise in the making.
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Mr Mair said: “No wonder the likes of Philip Pullman, PD James and most significantly Colin Dexter have used it as a backcloth for their story-telling.
“Let’s take a Inspector Morse Tour of Jericho.This is especially pertinent as the Morse/Oxford TV/film connection is expected to come to an end with the last ‘Endeavour’ series due on television later this year.”
Mr Mair’s walk starts in Mount Place as it is the new public space which recently hosted a book fair and an art fair.
Situated next to the Oxford Canal and down the stairs from the bridge, it was recently revamped by the city council, with new York stone paving laid and flower beds replanted by the group Greening Jericho.
The space used to be the location for a tallow factory and today it is on the way to becoming a peaceful idyll for families with regular big events staged there.
Walk down Canal Street to the first Inspector Morse connection - Combe Road. It featured as Canal Reach in the first TV Morse The Dead of Jericho in 1987.
Endeavour Morse wanted to hook up with Anne Scott. Sadly for Morse,she was found hanging in her kitchen at Number 9.
Inspector Morse and the then Sergeant Lewis retreated the Bookbinders Arms across the road to discuss the case.
Film crews’ overtime did not come cheap then so interiors were filmed closer to the base in London.
Mr Mair added: “Today The Old Bookbinders serves good ale and even better food.
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“For spiritual replenishment go along to St Barnabas Church, also featured in Morse, built in 1869 by the university printer Thomas Combe and has magnificent Italianate basilica inside.
“Then look out for number 41 Nelson Street.
“Locals still talk of the night it was blown up by a film crew for Morse reasons.”
Walton Street is not far from Somerville College, which features in the Morse episodes Last Bus to Woodstock in 1988 and Sins of the Fathers in 1990.
Take in the Blavatnik School of Government, Freuds wine bar and Oxford University Press before heading to the Jericho Tavern where Radiohead and Supergrass played. Then see the Phoenix Picturehouse and Brasserie Blanc - an outpost upon which the Raymond Blanc empire was built.
Then walk down Juxon Street noticing the houses are all the same on one side.
They were built by one builder but bought up by Lucys who had a huge metal foundry at the end adjoining the canal. The foundry has long gone to be replaced by flats.
Finally, walk down Mount Street back to Mount Place.
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Soon, they may have as a standout piece of public art to help them on their way over the bridge to Port Meadow or the railway station.
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